Biography: Iranian Artist Charles Hossein Zenderoudi It is now nearly half a century that Hossein Zenderoudi, the Iranian artist residing in France, considered as one of the ten living important contemporary artists by editorial board of the French journal Connaissance des Art (1971) and one of the most esteemed founders of Saqakhaneh School, represents Iran's visual arts on an international scale. -Roya Monajem, Tavoos - 2/28/11

Photos: Windcatchers in Baft, Iran A windcatcher is a traditional Persian architectural device used for many centuries to create natural ventilation in buildings. It is not known who first invented the windcatcher, but it still can be seen in many countries today. -Photos by Amir Ghaderi - 2/28/11

Accomplices in Imprisoning Mousavi and Karoubi After a turbulent 20 months, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have finally been incarcerated. But their incarceration is of a type worse than a regular prison. They have been locked up the way other senior clerics such as ayatollah Shariatmadari, ayatollah Rowhani, ayatollah Ghomi and ayatollah Montazeri were locked up in the past. Their incarceration comes without any court or trial or even a sentence. -Akbar Ganji - 2/28/11

Revolution Not on the Cards in Iran Vladimir Lenin had a formula for diagnosing the symptoms of revolution, "Those at the bottom won't, those at the top can't." He argued that revolution required mass involvement, a spirit of courage and commitment, and political engagement. These three conditions do not yet exist in Iran. -Ali Reza Eshraghi, IWPR - 2/28/11

U.S. Condemns Iran For Crackdown The United States has condemned Iran for what Washington terms an "organized intimidation campaign." The White House says Iran has arrested political leaders and activists, human rights defenders as well as student leaders, journalists and bloggers. - 2/28/11

Iranian-American Engineer Develops Online Dating SiteThe Iranian-American founder and CEO of a newly launched location-based dating service is revolutionized dating with his new company CupidRadar. Founder and CEO Mehrdad Sarlak told the Iran Times that his fascination with how people ultimately pair and bond with others is what gave him the idea for his newly launched dating service. -Grace Nasri - 2/28/11

Virginia: Mosaique presents No Rooz Dinner Show and Dance Party Sunday, March 27, 2011 - Join us for a celebration of the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring! Featuring contemporary and classical Persian dance, along with theatrical Middle Eastern folklore dances performed by Katayoun with Troupe Eshveh and Mosaique students. - 2/28/11

Intifada beyond PalestineRemember the neoconservatives' plan of "domino effect" following the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq? It was supposed to be followed by the toppling of other "unfriendly" heads of "rogue states" such as those ruling Iran and Syria who do not cater to the US-Israeli interests in the Middle East. -Ismael Hossein-zadeh - 2/28/11

Iran's Royan Institute fertilizes ovum without need of sperm "An offspring inherits half of genetic material from father and the other half from mother; we have omitted maternal and paternal DNA in our research and have used a complete genetic maternal cell to fulfill fertilization," Dr. Aazam Dalman, an embryologist, told reporters on the sidelines of the first embryology symposium. - 2/28/11

Iran: End Enforced Disappearance of Opposition Leaders and Wives The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called for the immediate release of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi and both their wives, who have been removed to an unknown location-reportedly a "safe house"- from their homes. Under international law, the secret holding of Musavi and Karroubi and their wives is an enforced disappearance. - 2/27/11

USA: Give Back this NoroozThe Iranian New Year, Norooz, is a time of year to celebrate family, friends and the rebirth of nature. It's also a time for spring cleaning 'khouneh tekouni' and, according to some, setting the tone for the year ahead. - 2/27/11

Iranian Supreme Leader urged to hold talks with opposition leaders Ahmad Montazeri, the son of the late dissident Iranian cleric Ayatollah Hosseinali Montazeri, is urging the Iranian Surpeme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to begin a dialogue with the opposition leaders. Kaleme website reports that in an open letter, Ahmad Montazeri has asked Ayatollah Khamenei to make "a historic decision" in solving the current problems. - 2/27/11

Iran after February 14! In the wake of the "revolutions" in the Middle East and "revival" of protests by the Green forces, some American "experts" of Iran are calling for regime change. While the Obama Administration does not endorse this misguided view, it could be persuaded to embrace it if the situation in Iran is not better understood and leaders in Tehran fail to unite the country. -Hooshang Amirahmadi - 2/27/11

Hamed Haddadi shines in NBA Iranian basketball player Hamed Haddadi made his best performance in NBA by scoring 10 points for the winner Memphis Grizzlies against the Sacramento Kings. - 2/27/11

Call for Entries: Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco The 4th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, a showcase for the independent feature and short films made by or about the Iranians from around the world, is inviting the filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films to the next edition taking place September 10-11, 2011. - 2/27/11

London - British Museum Nowruz LectureFriday 18 March, 2011 - Talks and discussion on Nowruz, how it was celebrated historically and how it is celebrated today. Introduced by author and historian Tom Holland. Speakers include Narguess Farzad, Senior Fellow in Persian, SOAS, and Zia Shahreyar, BBC Persian. - 2/27/11

Iran calls unloading fuel from nuclear plant "normal" Spokesman and Director General of Public Relations and Information Office of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Hamid Khadem-Qaemi said, "unloading fuel from Bushehr nuclear facility has been exaggerated by some news agencies and reports. The actions taken in the plant are normal." -ISNA - 2/27/11

Iran's GDP to hit $767.2b in five years: The Economist The Economist reported that Iran will rank higher in global Gross Domestic Production in upcoming years. ISNA news agency cited the January report of The Economist predicting Iranian GDP would continuously go up in the next 5 years. - 2/27/11

Iran To 'Remove Fuel' From Bushehr Nuclear Plant Iran says it is removing the fuel from the reactor of its Russian-built nuclear power plant, a move seen as a blow to its nuclear program. The decision to remove the fuel from the reactor of the nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr comes just months before the facility, whose construction began in the 1970s, was scheduled to generate electricity. - 2/26/11

Photos: Nowruz, New Year Shopping in IranIn association with the "rebirth of nature", extensive spring-cleaning is a national tradition observed by almost every household in Iran. This is also extended to personal attire, and it is customary to buy at least one set of new clothes. - 2/26/11

Conservative lawmaker wants Iranian opposition leaders on TV Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi must be given a chance to speak for themselves on national television, conservative Iranian lawmaker Ali Motahari said today. The two opposition leaders have been under house arrest for the past two weeks. -Zamaneh - 2/26/11

Who Will Be Iran's Next Supreme Leader?The RAND Corporation has issued a report that looks at the possible scenarios should Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pass away and a succession battle ensue. Khamenei is 71 and, according to some rumors, ill. The report discusses five scenarios including: "status quo," in which Khamenei hand picks his successor; and "abolition" of the supreme leader position. -Golnaz Esfandiar, RFE - 2/26/11

Iran's Behdad Salimi named 2010 World Best Lifter Iranian heavyweight lifter Behdad Salimi has been chosen in the annual Lifters of the Year Voting of the World Weightlifting magazine by the weightlifting community as the Best Male Lifter of 2010. - 2/26/11

China to invest $2.5b in Iran's Azadegan oilfield China is to invest $2.5 billion in South Azadegan oilfield on Iran's side of the Iraqi border. The field currently produces 55,000 barrels per day and it is expected to increase output to 320,000 bpd after the completion of the first phase of the project. The project is already underway. -MNA - 2/26/11

Fire In The Belly: How The Middle East Is WonAs the fire of the Middle East and North African countries take hold of the old and the brittle, ushering in the young and strong, The United States of America continues to monitor the events with great anticipation. The stark realization that the fear of heart is replaced by soulful hope is tantalizing. The atmosphere beckons the unearthing of the truth, about The Middle East, about its people, their desires, about the dictators and their failures. -Sousan M. Alemansour - 2/25/11

Nowruz 2011: Send Persian New Year greeting ecardsWish that Nowruz brings the blessings of happiness, prosperity and love. Reach out to all you know with this New Year greeting. Invite and wish a friend or a loved one for a grand celebration on Nowruz - 2/25/11

Why Iran Is DifferentOn first glance, it looks like an archetypal no-brainer; a large Middle Eastern country with a repressive regime and a simmering, angry protest movement. Twice in the past fortnight, that movement -- encouraged by events in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere -- has come out of hibernation to stage its first demonstrations in a year, albeit only to be met by crushing crackdowns. -Robert Tait, RFE - 2/25/11

Saied's app top 10 most paid mac app! "Learn the Switch to Mac" was created by 26-year old Silicon Valley entrepreneur Saied Ghaffari. Back in 2001, Ghaffari was the youngest employee to work at the Apple Store in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Within a short period of time, Ghaffari proved to be one of the most successful Apple Store employees - 2/25/11

Iran unveils indigenous supercomputersTwo giant supercomputers were unveiled at prestigious Amirkabir and Isfahan universities of technology. The supercomputer of Amirkabir University of Technology with graphic power of 22000 billion operations per second is able to process 34000 billion operations per second with the speed of 40GB. - 2/25/11

Virginia: George Mason University Norouz Show 1390Friday, March 11, 2011 - Come join the GMU Persian Club in celebrating the Norooz 1390 with our annual Norooz Show held in George Mason University's prestigious Center for the Arts building. Join us for a great time filled with amazing student talent: music, dancing, laughs, and singing. - 2/25/11

Iran: Internal Image of Officials Contradict Their Public Persona "The private and public persona of regime officials are in complete contrast. Happy and smiling faces turn into dry and serious ones as one moves from inside quarters of power in the Islamic republic to the outside world, perhaps to maintain the prestige of officialdom." -Mohammad Reza Yazdanpanah, Rooz - 2/25/11

Human Life Should Be the Priority! The negative world-wide publicity that results when an Iranian is imprisoned or killed in street violence causes many in the West to question treatment of human rights in Iran; too often this attention from the West results in even more sanctions being placed on Iran. -Mohammad Ala - 2/25/11

Iranian youth demand release of opposition leaders The youth of Iran's reformist parties announced today that if the Islamic Republic authorities do not release opposition leaders MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi from house arrest, they will take to the streets on March 2. -Zamaneh - 2/24/11

Iran Opposition Leaders Issue Reform Charter Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have issued a proposal calling for constitutional change. The "reform charter" states, among other things, that civil codes, including the constitution, are not meant to last forever and can be changed. It also calls on the Iranian government to respect the legal status of minorities. - 2/24/11

New York: 8th Persian Day Parade 2011 & Chaharshanbeh SouriSunday, April 10th, 2011 - 50,000 spectators are expected to attend this year to celebrate, the Persian New Year, Nowruz. Everyone is encouraged to continue the festivities at the end of the Parade route at Madison Square Park. - 2/24/11

Where Are Iranian Opposition Leaders Musavi, Karrubi?Karrubi was put under house arrest after he and fellow opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi called for a rally in solidarity with the uprisings in the Arab world on February 14. Musavi and his wife were said to have been put under house arrest on February 14, as the protest they called reportedly attracted tens of thousands of protesters to challenge the Iranian regime. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/24/11

Iran Raises The Stakes: The Istanbul Talks & Iran's Political Psychology As Iranian diplomats prepared to meet their American, British, French, Russian, Chinese and German counterparts for the latest round of talks, expectations were low. Yet there was cautious optimism that a new venue in Istanbul - outside of the West, in Iran's backyard - could produce tangible first steps. -Reza Marashi, NIAC - 2/24/11

Iranian Reformists Warn Against ExtremismAn Iranian reformist group has warned the Green Movement "not to fall prey to radicalism and the violence that the extremist government autocrats are after." - 2/24/11

US Sanctions Iranian Officials for Crushing ProtestsThe United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions against two key Iranian officials who were instrumental in crushing political protests there since 2009. The Basij militia leader and Tehran prosecutor are blamed for "significant" human rights abuses. - 2/24/11

The Recent Protests in Iran and Their Prospects for Success Despite security forces' warning that demonstrators will be stopped, thousands marched in Tehran, Esfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Mashhad - most of them university students. Which brings us to the central question: Can the current wave of protests in Iran succeed? -Baryn Kayaoglu - 2/24/11

Iranian Warships Dock in Syria Two Iranian naval ships have docked in Syria after passing through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea - an act Israel had called a "provocation." -VOA - 2/24/11

Senegal Accuses Iran of Supplying Weapons to Rebels Senegal has severed diplomatic relations with Iran, accusing it of supplying weapons to separatist rebels in the southern Casamance region where three Senegalese soldiers were killed in attacks over the weekend. -VOA - 2/24/11

US Officials Offer Little Clarity On Unintended Consequences of Iran SanctionIranian Americans and Iranian students in the US have found it increasingly difficult to send and receive family remittances due sanctions ambiguities as well. Remittances to Iran are legal, but no clear guidelines for these transactions exist. NIAC has requested clarification and new guidelines from OFAC that specifically address remittances. -Sarah Olia, NIAC - 2/23/11

Family of moderate cleric attacked in Iran Two pro-government plainclothes agents attacked two of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani's children at a funeral service in Shahr-e Rey, the Islamic Republic of Iran newspaper reports. -Zamaneh - 2/23/11

Two Iranian wrestlers invited to U.S.Iran's Greco-Roman wrestlers Hamid Sourian and Amir Ali-Akbari have been invited to the U.S. to take part in 2011 Curby Cup. The 2nd Annual Curby Cup will feature the best Greco-Roman wrestlers as the World Dream Team and the U.S. wrestling national team, facing off in a dual meet. - 2/23/11

OPEC cannot act, needs more clarity: Iran Unrest across the Middle East and surging oil markets have created too unstable a situation for OPEC to act yet, Iran's OPEC governor Mohammad-Ali Khatibi said on Tuesday. - 2/23/11

Opposition Protesters March in BahrainOpposition supporters in Bahrain have marched through the center of the capital Manama demanding more rights and a new government. The action comes just more than a week since protests, inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, began in the Persian Gulf kingdom. - 2/23/11

Iranian Hackers Attack VOA Internet Sites A group of computer hackers hijacked websites run by the Voice of America this week, sending its online traffic to an Internet website claimed to be run by the Iranian Cyber Army. The attack comes as the U.S. government is renewing its push to promote freedom in cyber space and as protests spread across the Middle East - some with the help of the Internet. - 2/23/11

Iranian Hackers Attack VOA Internet SitesA group of computer hackers hijacked websites run by the Voice of America this week, sending its online traffic to an Internet website claimed to be run by the Iranian Cyber Army. The attack comes as the U.S. government is renewing its push to promote freedom in cyber space and as protests spread across the Middle East - some with the help of the Internet. - 2/23/11

Iranian opposition demands release of Mousavi and Karroubi Ardeshir Amirarjmand The Iranian opposition announced today that a "firm demand of the Green Movement" is that the government end the strict house arrest imposed on the movement's leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. - 2/22/11

Joining Hands - Coverage Of Iranian American Women's Leadership ConferenceOn Sunday, January 30, 2011, the first Iranian American Women's Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine, California. ThePathways to Success Women's Leadership Conference attracted 570 participants and featured 40 Iranian American women who contributed to various panel discussions and sessions -Zohreh Khazai Ghahreman - 2/22/11

Photos: Mashhad subway comes on stream On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of the Prophet of Islam and the 6th Shi'ite Imam on Sunday, Mashhad subway was opened for test runs. The subway will initially run from 9:00 to 13:00 in a 35-minute, 19 kilometer route with 22 stops. -Mehdi Bolourian, MNA - 2/22/11

Iran Greco-Roman wrestlers crowned World Cup championsIran wrestling team claimed the title of the 2011 Greco-Roman World Cup held in Minsk, Belarus. The Persians defeated the world and Olympic champion Russia 4-3 in the final game of the event and won the championship for the second year in a row. - 2/22/11

Iran Arrests Son of Opposition LeaderThe website of Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi says the country's security forces have arrested one of his sons and tried to arrest a second son. - 2/22/11

Iran: Massive Production of False News and News ClipsThe media deputy of Iran's state-run radio and television network (IRIB) or the logistic branch of the cyber division has recently boosted its activities. The cyber division was launched about nine months ago and it is tasked with disrupting the media world through the production and distribution of fake news and news video clips. -Arash Motamed, Rooz - 2/22/11

Virginia: IP Society of Iranian Americans Nowrooz Ball 2011Saturday, March 12th, 2011 -- USPTO IPSIA Goals: Assist the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in promoting and effecting the full and equitable representation of its Iranian American employees by enhancing their career and professional development and publicizing their contributions, accomplishments, and capabilities - 2/22/11

'They've Put Batons Instead Of Books In The Hands Of People's Children'The following are excerpts from the account, obtained by RFE/RL, of a 25-year-old female student in Tehran of the scattered protests that took place in Tehran on February 20 --- Around 3 p.m., two friends and I started walking from Haft-e Tiro Square toward Vali Asr square. Basij forces and [riot police] were everywhere. Their number was increasing as we got closer to Enghelab square. - 2/22/11

Egyptians should not allow enemies to misdirect revolution: Iran's Supreme LeaderSupreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the Egyptian people should not allow the enemies to misdirect their revolution. The Leader made the remarks in Tehran on Sunday during a meeting with a number of Muslim scholars who were attending the 24th International Islamic Unity Conference. -MNA - 2/22/11

Secular PrayerI pray to all Gods of all religions in the world to let the people of all states live in peace and do not divide them according to self-centered religions. I pray to all Gods of all religions in the world to stop claiming to have the monopoly of truth. -Bahman Aghai Diba - 2/22/11

Security forces quell opposition protests in TehranOfficial media denied reports of heavy security presence and minor skirmishes with opposition supporters, stressing that the Iranian capital was calm. But witnesses described large groups of protesters at several locations in the city and a hefty number of security forces armed with clubs, tear gas and Tasers out to thwart them. -Washington Post - 2/22/11

Khamenei Praises Arab Revolts As Iran Crushes Its Own ProtestsIran's Islamic regime and the opposition Green Movement have embarked on a tug-of-war to voice solidarity with the antigovernment demonstrations convulsing Arab countries, as Iran's own long-dormant protest organizations shows signs of reviving. -RFE - 2/21/11

Ex-President's Daughter Arrested at Iran ProtestThe daughter of Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was arrested in Iran for taking part in a banned opposition rally, according to state television. Rafsanjani was released a short time later amid reports that Iranian security forces were cracking down on rallies in the country. - 2/21/11

Iranian Diplomat Resigns To Join Green MovementAhmad Maleki, the head of Iran's consular office in Milan, has resigned his post to protest the Iranian government's "barbaric actions against the Iranian nation," RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports. - 2/21/11

Strikes Begin at Abadan Refinery: Third Phase PostponedA strike at Abadan's oil refinery is no inconsequential event. This is the largest gasoline producing plant in Iran which also happens to be the oldest oil refinery plant in the Middle East. The strike of its workers in 1978 was consequential for the 1979 revolution that toppled the monarchy in the country. -Ardalan Sayami, Rooz - 2/21/11

Texas: The Society of Iranian American Women for Education NorouzSaturday, March 12, 2011 - The Society of Iranian-American Women for Education(SIAWE) was established as a nonprofit charitable corporation under the laws of the state of Texas. The Society does not have any religious or political affiliation and operates by a volunteer Board of Directors and Officers through donations received from the community. - 2/21/11

Letter: Let The People Go!This letter is in response to the articles covering the civil unrest occurring in Iran. As a citizen of and believer in democracy, I applaud the efforts of the Iranian people. Their efforts are similar to what is happening in Yemen and Algeria as well as the most recent revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. -Joe Bialek - 2/21/11

Netanyahu Blasts Iran For Sending Ships Through SuezIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Iran of exploiting Egypt's political crisis by sending two warships through the Suez Canal. Suez Canal officials in Egypt identify the ships as a frigate and a supply ship on their way to Syria. -VOA - 2/21/11

Iranian protesters reportedly shot at by security forcesA protester has been shot and killed at 7th Tir Square in central Tehran, according to several eyewitness reports on opposition websites. The news comes amid reports that protesters are gathering in several parts of the city, responding to the opposition's call to rally in commemoration of the two people killed during protests last Monday. - 2/20/11

Iranian protesters begin gathering despite heavy security presenceOpposition websites report that people are beginning to gather and chant slogans in some sections of Tehran on the date the opposition has called a protest rally in commemoration of the two people killed in the last opposition street demonstrations on Monday. - 2/20/11

The Root of the Feeling of Religiousness Any time I leave our house and walk on the opposite pavement, and automatically remembering blood drops on them seen first last year when power-possessors began to brutally suppress the green movement, I see how 'hatred' rages again inside as all other corresponding memories of continuous inhuman violence ever since and in the past three decades and before that and since the dawn of history of us killing us automatically come to mind. -Roya Monajem, Tehran - 2/20/11

Iranian government braces for opposition rallySecurity and plainclothes forces of the Islamic Republic have been deployed all across Tehran Sunday, the day the opposition had called a rally to commemorate the two men killed during the protests of February 14. - 2/20/11

Home of Iranian opposition leader sealed with iron barsMir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard At the threshold of the next proposed anti-government demonstrations, security forces have begun sealing the entrance of the Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard's home with an iron gate. -Zamaneh - 2/20/11

Press TV, Mouthpiece Of Iranian Regime, Spewing Lies About The OppositionPress TV, a news network wholly funded by the Iranian regime, is proving that it's real mission is propagating the lies and propaganda of the ruling establishment. This is especially evident in the coverage of Iranian opposition where Press TV reports are void of any objective reporting and prove that this news agency is acting solely as a mouthpiece of the regime. -Ali Moayedian - 2/20/11

Iranian Family Drama Wins at Berlin Film FestivalThe Iranian drama "Nader and Simin: A Separation" won the Golden Bear award for the best picture and also picked up the best actor and actress prizes at the Berlin Film Festival Saturday. - 2/20/11

Persian Letters: Inside The Mind Of Iran's Basij Here is an account of the February 14 anti-government protest in Tehran from a member of Iran's Basij force. The Basiji posted the account on his blog, Trench of the Strategic Battle, and we have translated some excerpts -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/20/11

German FM Visits Iran"Iran and Germany can play an influential and constructive role in the region and cooperate on regional and international developments," Salehi said in a press conference with German counterpart Guido Westerwelle in Tehran on Saturday. -ISNA - 2/20/11

Iran Opposition Plans New Protest SundayIran's opposition has invited Iranians to attend a protest rally in Tehran and other cities on February 20 to mark a week since the deaths of two people in earlier demonstrations. - 2/19/11

Iran cuts off opposition leaders from all outside contact Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard lost their last link to the outside world today when their personal guards were dismissed by the Islamic Republic security forces. Kaleme website reports that the house arrest of these two opposition leaders has become complete, with no direct news of the couple in the past three days. - 2/19/11

Persian Letters: 'They Kill People's Children, Then They Pray' Opposition websites have posted calls for nationwide protests on February 20 to commemorate the two students who were killed in the February 14 protest in Tehran. The opposition group called the Coordinating Council of the Green Path of Hope said the rallies are also intended to show "decisive support" for the stance taken by opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/19/11

North Carolina: Persian Cultural Center of North Carolina Norooz CelebrationsThe Persian Cultural Center of North Carolina (PCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of Iran's rich cultural heritage. The PCC serves the needs of the families and friends of hundreds of Iranian, Afghan, and Tajik families living in central North Carolina. - 2/19/11

Iran Opposition Raises StakesIran's opposition called for another nationwide demonstration on Sunday, and raised the stakes by openly labeling the struggle as a fight against "a religious dictatorship." The statement, endorsed by leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, appears to lay out the opposition's goal more clearly after tens of thousands of supporters took to the streets Monday calling for regime change. -Farnaz Fassihi, WSJ - 2/19/11

Bahrain Continues Violent Crackdown on Protesters Bahrain's main hospital has been flooded with patients after security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators. Fifty-five people are reported injured, seven of them are said to be in critical condition. Witnesses said the demonstrators were performing Friday prayers at Manama's Pearl Roundabout when shots began to ring out. - 2/19/11

Egypt allows Iranian warships transit Suez Canal Egypt has agreed to allow two Islamic Republic warships to transit through the Suez Canal. This is the fist time since the the Islamic Republic was established that Iranian naval ships have been allowed to use the Suez Canal. Hosni Mubarak's government had always refused Iran's requests. - 2/19/11

Iran issues final verdict for two GermansIran issued final verdict for the two Germans on Saturday. A branch of Iranian Islamic Revolution Court proclaimed the two Germans' sentence can be commuted under Islamic compassion. - 2/19/11

Karroubi's latest message from under house arrest: "Be brave and hold a public trial for us"In a message sent to Deutsche Welle via his adviser Mojtaba Vahedi, Mehdi Karroubi referred to the recent declarations by the ruling government in the aftermath of the February 14th, 2011 [25 Bahman 1389] demonstrations as "bogus" and demanded that he be put on trial "in a court similar to the infamous trials in which Khosro Golesorkhi and Mahmoud Taleghani were put on trial during the reign of the Shah of Iran." - 2/18/11

Government-Backed 'Day of Hate' In TehranA government-sponsored demonstration being held in Tehran's Enghelab Square is providing regime supporters the opportunity to counter opposition activists, who this week staged their first sizeable street protests in months. Similar rallies are also taking place in other Iranian cities, state television reported. - 2/18/11

Iran: Deep Concerns Regarding Well-Being Of Opposition Leader And His WifeAccording to reports from Jaras, as of Tuesday February 15th, and after Mir Hossein Mousavi published a short statement thanking the noble citizens of Iran for their extensive presence in the February 14th rallies, Mousavi's residence has been completely surrounded by security officers, and he remains incommunicado. Even his daughters have no news of him and his wife Dr. Zahra Rahnavard. - 2/18/11

Iran arrests managers of two websitesIran has arrested the directors and technical managers of two websites, Aftabnews and Fararu. Jaras opposition website reports both websites have been accused of publishing "falsehoods" about the Bahman 25 (February 14) demonstrations. - 2/18/11

Iranian Association of Boston Celebrates Norouz 1390Saturday, March 19, 2011 - Established in 1989, The Iranian Association of Boston (IAB) is a non-political, non-religious organization and has no affiliation with any political or religious organization. The Iranian Association of Boston is dedicated to promoting the cultural and social understanding of Iran. - 2/18/11

Iran tells Bahrain to respond to people's demands while threatening Iranian opposition!On the one hand Iranian government is pressing Bahrain to respond to the people's demands for change, and on the other is unleashing security forces on the Iranian opposition trying to hold peaceful demonstrations. Iranian opposition leaders, referred to as the "seditionists" by the government, are also being threatened with trials and executions. - 2/18/11

'Anonymous' Hackers Help Iranian Activists Fight The Regime That's the inscrutable "voice" of international Internet collective Anonymous, a shadowy organization that has carried out a number of attacks on websites worldwide. In recent days, with Iranians taking to the streets to protest against the government, the country's Islamic authorities have boosted their censorship efforts in a bid to crush opposition activity online. -Kristin Deasy, Hannah Kaviani, RFE - 2/18/11

Key cleric wants house arrest for Iranian opposition leadersDuring a Friday prayer sermon in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that prosecuting the opposition leaders was not "expedient" at this time. Instead, he said that former presidential candidates Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi must be "cut off" from the world. -Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post - 2/18/11

Virginia: Nowrooz Bazaar to benefit childrenSunday, March 13, 2011 - This Program is presented by Washington DC Council of Save The Children. %100 of profit from the sales will be donated to children in need. All your donations are Tax deductible as permitted by IRS. - 2/18/11

Seeking justice for two Canadians in IranToronto vigil raises awareness of falsely imprisoned Malekpour, Ghassemi-Shall: Accounts given by Evin prisoners in Tehran are all more-or-less similar: phoney charges, brutal torture to extract false testimony, and summary processes that often end in death-sentences - often executed quietly. --Corriere Tandem - 2/18/11

Thousands Attend Funerals of Protests Victims in BahrainThousands of mourners have gathered in villages outside Bahrain's capital, Manama, to bury the victims of Thursday's crackdown on anti-government protests. During funeral rites for the victims, the mourners chanted slogans calling for the overthrow of the government. - 2/18/11

Iranain oppositon issues another rally call Iranian opposition groups today called on people to join a rally on February 20 commemorating the seventh day of the passing of the two people killed during the protests of Bahman 25 (February 14). - 2/17/11

Protesters Say Two 'Green Martyrs' Hijacked In IranSanee Zhaleh and Mohammad Mokhtari, the two young Iranians who were shot dead in the February 14 protests, are now being referred to as "Green martyrs," along with about 70 other citizens who lost their lives in the 2009 protests over the disputed reelection of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Members of the Green Movement have accused the Iranian establishment of stealing the bodies of the two men in an attempt to depict them as government supporters who were killed by the opposition. - Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/17/11

Moderate cleric, Hashemi, deriled by Iranian hardlinersTwo days after the Bahman 25 (February 14) protests, supporters of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, were shown on national TV chanting slogans in Qom calling for the death of Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani. The moderate cleric is the chairman of Iran's two major governing bodies, the Assembly of Experts and the Expediency Council. -Zamaneh - 2/17/11

Farhang Foundation's First Ever Nowruz (Iranian New Year) Celebration in Orange CountyFarhang Foundation announced today that, for the first time since its inception in 2008, it will host a Nowruz (Iranian New Year) celebration on Saturday, March 12, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm in Orange County at Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center), located at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. - 2/17/11

Iranian judiciary says opposition leaders must stand trialIranian media quote GholamHosein Mohseni Ejei, Iran's prosecutor, saying the protests of February 14 were "seditious activities of the U.S. and the Zionist regime," calling them an extension of the "seditious movement" of the past year. - 2/17/11

Iran: Rafsanjani Viewed as the Axis of SeditionAs the March 8th and 9th session of Iran's Assembly of Experts on Leadership approaches, posturing against its chairman, veteran politician Hashemi Rafsanjani is on the rise. Some even openly speak of the need to replace him. One member of the 86-man body that is constitutionally charged with monitoring the work of Iran's supreme leader and can remove the leader or elect a new one told reporters that Rafsanjani was the "axis of the seditionists" and added that people even booed some of the Assembly members. -Mahshid Boroomand, Rooz - 2/17/11

Iran: Government targets family of opposition leader Iranian security forces tried last night to arrest Hossein Karroubi, the son of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi. Saham News reports that 20 people swarmed the home of Hossein Karroubi on Tuesday night. They reportedly broke down the door and began destroying the property. -Zamaneh - 2/17/11

Michigan: The University of Michigan's Norooz ShowSaturday, March 19, 2011 - Come celebrate the New Year (Norooz)!! Hosted by MTV star and stand-up comedian K-von, the show will include performances by talented Michigan students as well as a performance by the highly acclaimed and extremely talented classical guitarist, Lily Afshar. - 2/17/11

Bahrain's Security Forces Crack Down on Protesters Security forces firing tear gas, percussion grenades and rubber bullets moved into the square before dawn, attacking the mostly Shi'ite protesters - including women and children - who had occupied the area since Tuesday. Witnesses say at least four people have been killed. Many injured people were rushed to local hospitals. -VOA - 2/17/11

Belarus Considers Scrapping Car Production With IranFirst Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimer Syamashka told parliament today that since the beginning of the Belarusian-Iranian project five years ago, only 1,000 Samand cars had been assembled in Belarus. Syamashka said the car's quality was considered to be mediocre and it was overpriced. - 2/17/11

Clashes In Iran As Regime Backers Call For Execution Of Opposition LeadersViolence erupted on the streets of Tehran today during the funeral of a student who was shot dead during an antigovernment protest on February 14. Witnesses told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that supporters of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's regime interrupted a funeral march for the student, a Sunni Kurd named Sanee Zhaleh. - 2/16/11

Iranian Opposition Leaders Mousavi and Karroubi Address The Nation Following Feb 14 RallyFollowing the demonstrations by opposition supporters on Februrary 14 in Tehran and other cities in Iran, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi in short statements congratulated the Iranian nation and and strongly condemned the violence that led to the martyrdom and injury of a number of citizens. They also emphasized that the most valuable pride of the Green Movement is in its independence and its reliance on the great power of the people. - 2/16/11

Iran: Call By University Students To Attend Funeral Of The Feb 14 Green MartyrIn protest to the lies spread by the government propaganda machine regarding Green Martyr - Sane' Zhaleh, member of the public council of the Islamic Association of Tehran University Art School who was directly shot and killed by security forces on Feb 14, 2011 when he was attending the peaceful demonstration- Zhaleh's classmates called on students to attend the funeral ceremony of this Green martyr - 2/16/11

In Iran, Call For Opposition Leaders' Executions Sign Of 'Panic' The scene from Iran's parliament on February 15, the day after large antigovernment protests, could have been mistaken for a street demonstration itself. Parliamentary deputies shouted, "Musavi and Karrubi should be executed!" and "Death to Karrubi, Musavi, and Khatami." -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/16/11

NIAC Applauds Senate Call for Human Rights MonitorNIAC applauds Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and 23 other Senators who today called for the Obama Administration to work with the international community to establish an independent U.N. human rights monitor on Iran when the U.N. Human Rights Council convenes this March. - 2/16/11

Obama Warns Autocratic Rulers: 'World Is Changing' U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a warning to autocratic rulers that they cannot maintain their hold on power through coercion and must recognize the "world is changing." In a wide-ranging and unscheduled press conference in Washington, Obama addressed the growing democracy movement across the Middle East and spoke directly to the presidents, prime ministers, and monarchs who are facing the wrath of their citizens. -RFE - 2/16/11

Khamenei Meets with Mesbah: Fifth Trip to Qom in 2 Months Sites close to the ruling Principlists report that Iran's leader ayatollah Khamenei went to Qom for the fifth time in two months after his ten-day visit in December, this time to meet with ultra-conservative cleric Mesbah Yazdi. -Arash Bahmani, Rooz - 2/16/11

Fuel Troubles in IranTehran says it is becoming self-sufficient in petrol, in the hope of warding off the pain of further economic sanctions. But the effort has many detractors inside Iran, who say the method chosen - making petrol out of chemicals rather than crude oil - is uneconomic and environmentally unfriendly. -IWPR - 2/16/11

Music: Hotel California dedicated to Eagles by Farhad BesharatiFarhad Besharati is a Persian Kanun player who fuses traditional Persian music with contemporary flair. A Kanun is Persian instrument that looks very much like an autoharp, often used in Appalachian folk music, but sounds more like a cross between a mandolin and the Greek balalaika, with 78 strings and 30 notes. - 2/16/11

Iran's Leadership Cracks DownIn Aftermath of Protests, State Makes More Arrests, as White House Sharpens Support of the Opposition. -Farnaz Fassihi, WSJ - 2/16/11

One Killed As Antigovernment Protesters Clash With Security Forces In Iran Reports from Iran say one person was shot and killed as police moved to break up antigovernment demonstrations in the capital, Tehran, on February 14. Eyewitnesses have told RFE/RL that thousands of protesters answered calls from the opposition to turn out for a banned rally in support of the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. - 2/15/11

Iranian opposition reaffirms demand for changeOpposition supporters reportedly persisted in the streets of Tehran until 11 pm on Monday night and in various locations shouts of "Allah-o-Akbar" were heard from rooftops in protest to the hardline government until late hours of the night. -Zamaneh - 2/15/11

Video Roundup of February 14 Protests in IranDespite the harsh filtration and censorship of cyberspace in Iran, dozens of videos have already been posted documenting the protests in Iran's major cities on February 14. While it is impossible to verify their authenticity, the apparel of the protesters and the weather shown in the videos is in accordance with Iran's forecast for Monday. Eyewitness accounts and major news networks confirm the likely authenticity of these videos. - 2/15/11

Iran: Stop Attacks on Peaceful DemonstratorsIranian security forces should stop using teargas and batons to disperse peaceful crowds gathered in support of the popular movements in Egypt and Tunisia, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should also release opposition leaders and activists arbitrarily detained, and permit the free flow of communications channels, Human Rights Watch said. - 2/15/11

Iranian MPs call for execution of opposition leaders Iranian lawmakers called for the execution of opposition leaders MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi after tens of thousands of people responded to their rally call with widespread demonstrations in major Iranian cities yesterday. - 2/15/11

Tehran Beats Back New ProtestsIn Year's Biggest Rally, Iranians Seek Spiritual Head's Ouster -- Iranian police used tear gas and electric prods to crack down on the country's biggest antigovernment protests in at least a year, as demonstrators buoyed by activism across the Middle East returned to the country's streets by the tens of thousands Monday. -Farnaz Fassihi, WSJ - 2/15/11

Carlos Queiroz rejects Iran jobPortuguese Carlos Queiroz turned down an offer to become head coach of Iran football team on Monday night. Former Portugal coach was expected to sign a three-year contract with Iran but snubbed the offer. - 2/15/11

The Egyptian Transition to a Democratic FutureThe revolts in Tunisia and Egypt will go down the history as two of the fastest and easiest "revolutions" of all times! It is almost certain that the US was instrumental in bringing the rapid change, and this is good news for people and bad news for dictators. -Hooshang Amirahmadi - 2/15/11

Clinton Says It's Time For Iran To 'Open Up' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hailed the "courage" and "aspirations" of antigovernment protesters in Iran, after thousands of them took to the streets of several Iranian cities. - 2/15/11

Mohsen Namjoo not permitted for a concert in MalaysiaMinistry of Information, Communication and Culture not allow controversial concert singer from Iran, Mohsen Namjoo is scheduled to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), this Friday. -Allvoices - 2/15/11

Iranian protesters persist in streets of major citiesIranian protesters continue going to the streets of Tehran trying to gather and gain momentum despite widespread deployment of security forces all across the city and reports of violent confrontations between the people and the riot police. Tens of thousands of Iranians responded to a rally call issued by the opposition leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi who have been prevented by seucirty forces from leaving their homes to join the demonstrations. - 2/14/11

Iranian Protests Continue After NightfallVideos from Tehran reveal that protesters have remained in the streets past nightfall, gathering around garbage bins set on fire and chanting anti-government slogans, Zamaneh reports. - 2/14/11

Iranians brave the streets despite heavy security Eyewitness reports given to Zamaneh indicate that large buses with drawn curtains are parked around Valiasr Square, a central thoroughfare in Tehran, and security forces are brandishing clubs and batons to intimidate Iranain protesters who have braved the streets despite heavy security deployment all across Tehran. - 2/14/11

Witnesses: Hundreds March In Iranian Opposition Rallies Witnesses in Tehran say security forces today blocked hundreds of Iranians who were marching toward a main square in a banned rally supporting popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Demonstrators were marching toward Azadi Square, a traditional rallying point for protests. Crowds of protesters were also seen at key areas of the capital, such as Haft-e Tir Square, Karim Khan Avenue, and Ferdowsi Square. - 2/14/11

Iran police fire tear gas at opposition rally in Tehran Iranian police have fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators gathering in central Tehran in support of the protests in Egypt. A BBC producer in the Iranian capital, who was affected by the gas, described central Tehran as "total chaos". -BBC - 2/14/11

What's your Iranian-American object portraiture?Dualism is part of my thesis project exploring the identity of Iranian-Americans through the use of object portraiture. The idea is to better understand the Iranian-American demographic through the objects that we keep around and associate as part of our identity. - 2/14/11

Impact of the Egypt Revolution on Iran's Protest Movement The success of Egyptian people in ousting Hosni Mubarak after only 18 days of peaceful protests has inspired a new political awareness in other Arab countries but its consequences will not be limited to the Arab world. A few days before Mubarak's departure the Iran's Green Movement leaders asked the government for permission to orchestrate a demonstration in solidarity with the Egyptian people on February 14. -Nader Habibi - 2/14/11

Iran, Turkey agree to increase trade ties to $30BPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Monday that the value of trade ties between Iran and Turkey will reach 30 billion dollars during Iranian calendar year 1390, which begins on March 21. Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a four-day official visit. - 2/14/11

Valentine's Day Not Loved in Many Areas of the World Monday marks the celebration of Valentine's Day by much of the world. But it is a celebration that is drawing protests in some areas. Valentine's Day has been outlawed in Iran as well. Officials say they will take action against those who ignore the ban. - 2/14/11

Northern California: Ballet Afsaneh - Persian New Year Celebration in FresnoSaturday, March 26, 2011 - Afsaneh Art & Culture Society in collaboration with the Iranian Culture and Art Club of Fresno is thrilled to present Jashne Norouz - Persian New Year Celebration. An unforgettable evening of exquisite Persian Music and Dance, unlocking hidden treasures from an ancient past. - 2/14/11

Iranian Opposition Renews Rally Call Iranian opposition has renewed its call for people to rally on Monday in support of the recent Arab uprisings and "to protest the increasing illegal restrictions" against opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and MirHosein Mousavi. - 2/13/11

Reformists say only change can guarantee continuity of Islamic Republic An Iranian reformist group says heeding the popular demands for reform can "save the regime from collapse and degeneration." The Islamic Iran Participation Front issued a statement on Norooz website today saying that by supporting fair elections and rejecting military interference, the people are focusing on reforms that will guarantee the longevity of the system. -Zamaneh - 2/13/11

Northern California: Nowruz at Oakland East Bay SymphonyFriday, March 18, 2011 -- In March 2008, we celebrated Persian New Year with a concert featuring music and artists from this part of the world, along with brilliant works from the Western classical tradition. The concert was so well-received we've decided to return to Persia this season, once again in time to celebrate Persian New Year, Nowruz. - 2/13/11

Photos: Prototypes of Iranian satellite Navid and ZafarHead of Iran's satellite research center of Science and Industry University said on Saturday Navid (promise) satellite is to be launched in mid 2011. Hossein Bolandi said," space version of Navid satellite is made and is ready to be delivered to launcher. It will be launched in mid 2011. " - 2/13/11

Egyptian Revolution Stirs Raw Emotions in IranThe reign of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak collapsed on the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. It's an irony not lost to Iranians obsessively following the uprising in Egypt and drawing parallels to two popular uprisings in their own nation-the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the 2009 pro-democracy protests. -Farnaz Fassihi, WSJ - 2/13/11

Walking on a Dream -- Alone Across Iran10 kilometers outside of Tehran city limits the landscape changes abruptly from mountains to low rolling hills. I climbed the red dirt slopes, sinking at times up to my knees in the soft powdery sand. By the middle of the day it was hot and walking across the open plain sweat dripped from my nose and soaked my clothes. -Mark Kalch, Huffington Post - 2/13/11

Abbasi Davani Appointed Iran Nuclear Chief In a decree issued on Monday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed Fereydoun Abbasi Davani, who survived a bomb attack on November 29, as director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). -MNA - 2/13/11

Iran: Government Tightens Grip to Prevent Planned Demonstration on Monday The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran called for the immediate release of dozens of journalists and dissidents who have been arbitrarily detained in an apparent effort to intimidate Iranians from participating in a 14 February rally in solidarity with the Egyptian pro-democracy movement. - 2/12/11

Open Letter from Jafar Panahi to Berlin Film Festival The world of a filmmaker is marked by the interplay between reality and dreams. The filmmaker uses reality as his inspiration, paints it with the color of his imagination, and creates a film that is a projection of his hopes and dreams. - 2/12/11

White House Says Iranian Government 'Scared' By Egypt Upheaval The White House says Iran's censoring of foreign news reports on the unrest in Egypt shows how the authorities in Tehran fear their own people. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Iranian government was "scared of the will of its people." - 2/12/11

'Alarming' Rise In Executions In Iran Raises Concern Zohreh Eftekhari hopes her husband, prisoner Saeed Malekpour, will not become yet another victim of what has been described by human rights activists as "Iran's execution binge." -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/12/11

A Tyrant's Exit. A Nation's JoyEveryone suddenly burst out singing. And laughing, and crying, and shouting and praying, kneeling on the road and kissing the filthy tarmac right in front of me, and dancing and praising God for ridding them of Hosni Mubarak -Robert Fisk, Independent - 2/12/11

Gap Widens Between U.S. and Arab WorldArab public opinion will become increasingly difficult for the United States to favourably influence in light of recent regional unrest, according to experts speaking at a conference organized by the Brookings Institute on Wednesday. -IPS - 2/12/11

A Celebration of Two CulturesFor the first time, Chinese and Persian community organizations collaborate on a performance that celebrates New Year's traditions of both cultures -Cupertino Patch - 2/12/11

Iran Steps Up Pressure On Opposition Iranian authorities have stepped up pressure on the opposition with more arrests as the February 14 march proposed by opposition leaders draws closer. - 2/11/11

Neoconservative Film Makes Case for Crippling Sanctions, Military Action against Iran"Iran is at war with the United States, and we are not responding," declared Michael Ledeen at the February 8th screening of a new film, Iranium, on Capitol Hill. The film calls for "crippling sanctions" against Iran and asserts that "if economic pressure is not successful then military force may be utilized." -Todd Ruffner, NIAC - 2/11/11

"Revolutions" in the Middle East: Seeing and Seeing As In his 1969 book Perception & Discovery: An Introduction to Scientific Inquiry, the philosopher of science N.R. Hanson has a chapter entitled "Seeing and Seeing As." In it he presents a famous example of gestalt switch, a funny looking picture which could be construed as either a bunny rabbit or a duck. -Sasan Fayazmanesh - 2/11/11

Washington: Nowruz, A Persian New Year Celebration at SmithsonianDance, play, and feast your way into the Persian New Year at the Freer and Sackler. The museums' third annual Nowruz celebration features attractions for all ages, including elaborate haft-sin tables displaying auspicious New Year's items; chess and backgammon, a game invented in ancient Persia; "fire" jumping. - 2/11/11

Opposition Leader's Son Posts Pictures Of Father's Bruises Mohammad Hossein Karrubi, the son of opposition leader Mehdi Karrubi, has posted on his Facebook pages pictures of his father after he was beaten up by security forces during last year's state-sponsored demonstration marking the anniversary of the 1979 Revolution. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/11/11

Exhibition announcement: My Super Hero, New contemporary art from Iran Morono Kiang Gallery in Los Angeles and Aaran gallery in Tehran are pleased to announce their collaboration to present My Super Hero, an exhibition of new works by Iranian contemporary artists. My Super Hero will open simultaneously in Tehran and Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5, 2011. - 2/11/11

Egypt Uprising Draws Comparisons With Iran On Friday Iran will mark the anniversary of its Islamic revolution. Thirty-two years on, world leaders are reassessing their relations with Egypt in the wake of the anti-government protests there, with some wondering whether it will follow a similar path to Iran. But many observers say the Egyptian protesters are not motivated by religion. - 2/11/11

European Leaders, Obama Increase Pressure on Mubarak European governments reacted with a mix of concern and impatience to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's refusal to immediately leave office. Also, The White House delivered a new and stronger message as Mr. Obama and his advisers cope with developments after President Hosni Mubarak declined to step down. - 2/11/11

A Game To Remember You By: Mossadegh's Cat and the Iranian CoupThe Cat and the Coup interprets this moment of ignominy into videogame form. The game takes place during the 17-year period when Mossadegh was under house arrest. Players control Mossadegh's cat and as they move it through each environment Mossadegh is coerced into reliving all of the tragic moments of his life. -Paste - 2/11/11

Persian New Year, Norooz 1390 - 2011 TimesNowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (the start of spring in the northern hemisphere), which usually occurs either on March 20 on March 21. - 2/10/11

Iranian Chess Grandmaster Smashes Guinness RecordIranian chess grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem-Maghami set a new Guinness record on Tuesday. He simultaneously played against 614 opponents in Tehran's Shahid Beheshti university, scoring 590 wins, 16 draws and 8 loses for a winning percentage of over 90 percent. - 2/10/11

Nations should pay a high price for freedom: Iranian General Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi says any nation like Egypt which is trying to gain independence and freedom to determine its own fate should pay a high price. "It is hard to achieve your ideals without sacrificing your life and properties," Safavi, the top military advisor to the Supreme Leader, said on Wednesday. - 2/10/11

Iran Guards warn opposition against rally The Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday warned opposition leaders not to stage a rally after the anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution, as a top official said the planned event aimed to sow division. "The seditionists (opposition leaders) are nothing but a dead corpse and we will strongly confront any of their movements," Hamedani told the state news agency IRNA. -AFP - 2/10/11

Iranian Dissident Says Planned March Will Test Regime"Any kind of event that involves the rise of the people and the fight against dictatorship in the Muslim world and in the Arab world is in our benefit," said Mr. Karroubi, 72, speaking in Persian from his home, where he is largely isolated. -NY Times - 2/10/11

Iran stuns Russia 1-0 in football friendlyIran has disappointed Russia in a friendly football match, as Mohammed Reza Khalatbari scored the only goal of the match at the penultimate minute. The international FIFA "A" friendly match was held in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Feb. 9. - 2/10/11

Anti-Iranian Rally Held In Baku A rally has taken place in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku to protest what are widely perceived to be anti-Azerbaijani statements appearing in the Iranian media and Iran's warmer ties with Armenia, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports. - 2/10/11

Kafka in Tehran: Iranian Filmmaker Is Victim of Paranoid RegimeDirector Jafar Panahi is facing six years in prison in his native Iran, where the regime feels threatened by his films such as 2006's "Offside." The organizers of the Berlin International Film Festival, which begins Thursday, have expressed their support for Panahi by including him in the jury, even though he will not be able to attend. -Spiegel - 2/10/11

Hot or Not? A Model Turned Guru on What to EatYOGI CAMERON (Alborzian) thought I was hot. Which, I figured, was a flattering thing to hear from a man whose cheekbones used to earn him thousands of dollars a day. Alas, he did not mean it as a compliment. -NY Times - 2/10/11

Uprisings in the Region and Ignored Indicators What are the underlying factors of the uprising in Tunisia and protests in other countries of the region? Economic problems or political dissents? Although most of the time in such a social predicament the combination of factors plays a role, however, one could ask that which one of economic or political parameter does have an upper hand?... -Ammar Maleki, Rooz - 2/9/11

New York: Persian Arts Festival Norooz CelebrationWe are thrilled to present one of our most exciting lineups for our 5th Annual Norooz Celebration! Come join us on Saturday, March 26th at the 92YTribeca for an incredible evening of film, theater, poetry, art and music! - 2/9/11

DEATH, A VERY SERIOUS COMEDY A new, comedic play exploring the causes and consequences of one immigrant's misguided pursuit of the American dream - Premiering in Los Angeles on February 19, 2011 - 2/9/11

Iran: Allow Egypt, Tunisia Solidarity Rally Planned for 14 FebruaryThe Iranian Interior Ministry is obligated to issue a permit for a planned rally in support of pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt and Tunisia, consistent with Iran's international commitments to respect the freedom of assembly and Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. - 2/9/11

Philippine director's "Lola" wins two Crystal Simorghs at Fajr Fest "Lola" from the Philippines took home two Crystal Simorghs on Tuesday at the international section of the 29th Fajr Film Festival. Directed by Brillante Mendoza, the movie took the Best Film Award, and Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio shared the Best Actress Award. - 2/9/11

Iran sentences people for links to Israeli foundationThe prosecutor's office in Shiraz today announced prison sentences for a group of people who "collaborated" with the Born to Freedom Foundation, an organization that offers exorbitant rewards for conclusive information that could lead to the return of Ron Arad and other Israeli soldiers missing in action. - 2/9/11

Iranian reform party welcomes February 14 rally The Iranian reformist organization Islamic Iran Participation Front is urging people to join the February 14 rally in support of the Arab uprisings, so long as the government issues a permit. - 2/8/11

Apres-Ski in the Islamic Republic Unlike most residents of the Iranian capital Tehran, a select few do not have to struggle to make ends meet and can afford to go skiing at the weekend on the conveniently-located slopes north of the city. -Shahrzad Miri, IWPR - 2/8/11

Rotterdam Festival Rallies Support For Iranian Filmmakers The International Rotterdam Film Festival is rallying support for Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, two Iranian filmmakers who have been sentenced to six years in prison and 20 years ban from filmmaking by the Islamic Republic authorities. - 2/8/11

Iran, Turkey Aim to Triple Trade to $30 Billion Iran and Turkey say they are planning to triple their bilateral trade to $30 billion in the next five years. The two sides reached the agreement at their 22nd annual joint economic meeting Sunday in Tehran. -VOA - 2/8/11

Dutch ambassador in Iran recalled to The Hague Dutch News notes that some Iranian blogs and websites have said Bahrami actually died under torture, and the announced hanging was a ruse to cover up the truth. After refusing to release Bahrami's remains to her family, Iranian authorities gave her a secret burial last week and barred the family from attending. -Zamaneh - 2/8/11

Iran's 'Day of Rage' Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi have asked the Interior Ministry for permission to hold a rally on February 14 at Tehran's Azadi Square in support of the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. A February 14 page created on Facebook is gaining members, both among Iranian expats and Iranians inside the country. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE - 2/7/11

Photos: Pipeline Rupture Causes Oil Slick In Persian Gulf A pipeline rupture in Iran has caused a 20-kilometre oil slick along the shores of Persian Gulf near the port city of Deylam, Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. The spill has been blamed on an explosion in a corroded pipeline. - 2/7/11

Virginity Still a Commodity in Iran Increasing numbers of women have premarital sex and then undergo surgery to conceal the fact from their husbands. -Negar Farshidi, IWPR - 2/7/11

Iran Unveils New Indigenous Satellites Iran unveiled new satellites on Monday, another step in its space technology achievements which coincided with celebrations marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. - 2/7/11

Iranian opposition says government "fearful" of people's movement Iranian opposition says if the Islamic Republic refuses to issue them a permit for a pro-Arab rally, it will only be proving its fear of popular movements. Ardeshir Amirarjmand, an aide to Mir Hossein Mousavi, told Jaras website that the request for demonstrations "is a test for those who keep saying the Green Movement is dead." -Zamaneh - 2/7/11

Iran plans to send living creatures and humanoid into space Explorer 4 (Kavoshgar 4) is a domestically-made scientific and research payload which is to be sent into space with the aim of transferring living creature and humanoid and getting access to the technology of designing, building and launching biological capsule and restoring the payload safely. - 2/7/11

30 Years Later, Praise for and Words from Former Iran Hostages When hundreds of young Iranian activists took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979, the U.S. diplomats there thought they would face an uncomfortable but brief incident in a period of tense relations between the two countries. -Jeff Baron, America.gov - 2/7/11

Iran's opposition leaders hope to draw from protests in EgyptAs described by Iran's leaders, the uprising in Egypt has served as vindication of their country's Islamic revolution 32 years ago. But for the opposition here, the scenes on the streets of Cairo have brought stark reminders of their own unfinished quest for political reform. -Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post - 2/7/11

Iranian opposition wants to rally in support of Arab uprisings Iranian opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi are seeking government permission to stage a peaceful demonstration to express "solidarity with the people's movements in the region, especially the freedom movements of the people of Tunisia and Egypt against their oppressive regimes." - 2/6/11

Iranian filmmakers want Panahi charges dropped The Iranian film community has called upon the judiciary to withdraw the sentence against prominent filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who faces six years in prison and a 20-year ban from filmmaking and traveling abroad. - 2/6/11

Photos: Migratory birds return to Karun River Recent winter rainfall has led to the return of the migratory birds to the Karun River, the only navigable river of the country, which passes through the beautiful city of Ahvaz in southwestern Khuzestan Province. -Ali Moussavinejad - 2/6/11

Ahmadinejad slammed by Iran's Expediency Council Iran's Expediency Council is accusing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of "undermining the system and instigating Iran's enemies both within and outside the country." The statement is part of the council's response to Ahmadinejad's official letter of complaint, which attacked the council's chair and the heads of the legislative and judicial branches of the government. - 2/6/11

Emerging Space Powers Bo on the New Space Programs of Asia, the Middle East and South-America. Introduces the origins and current status of the lesser known, yet still important, space programs of emerging countries such as Iran and Brazil - 2/6/11

Art Gallery: Afsoon, Icons of the 4 CornersIranian born London based artist Afsoon has re-visited the openness and innocence of the late 60s and 70s, and the blossoming of creativity and progress during that era. - 2/5/11

What Influence Does Washington Have in the Arab World? U.S. President Barack Obama has once again called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to begin now an orderly political transition process leading to free and fair elections. It remains to be seen what influence - if any - Washington has over developments in the Arab world in general, and in Egypt in particular. - 2/5/11

Fajr Film Festival kicks off The Fajr International Film Festival, Iran's most important film gala, was inaugurated Friday during a ceremony held at Tehran's Milad Tower attended by hundreds of cineastes and film fans. - 2/5/11

Former U.S. Ambassador To Cairo: 'We Knew Egypt Was A Cauldron' Daniel Kurtzer served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001 before becoming the U.S. envoy to Israel. RFE/RL correspondent Richard Solash asked him about the U.S. response to the uprisings in Egypt and what it means for Washington's foreign policy approach to the region. - 2/5/11

Iran blocks Yahoo and Reuters as internet speeds fallDuring the massive street demonstrations that followed the last Iranian presidential elections, internet speeds were heavily reduced which the opposition attributed to government efforts to stop opposition from rallying protesters. -Zamaneh - 2/4/11

Tehran Looks on Calmly as Arabs Protest While the United States looks on at unrest in Egypt and other Middle Eastern states with concern, the mood among officials in Tehran is one of undisguised satisfaction. For Iran, whatever kind of change emerges from the protest has to be better than the status quo. -Ali Reza Eshraghi, IWPR - 2/4/11

Statement on Egypt with an Eye on Iran: Mousavi's First Warning About "Fall of Regime"In his statement Mousavi says that Pharaohs heard the calls of the Egyptian people too late. His statement about what is going on in Egypt is like an allegory which could easily be applied to Iran which has been in political crisis since June 2009 presidential elections whose official results have remained widely disputed by millions of Iranians. -Mohammad Reza Yazdanpanah, Rooz - 2/4/11

PAAIA Board Elects New Chair and Vice Chair The Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) this week elected Mr. Ali Mojdehi as Chairman and Mrs. Forough Hosseini as Vice Chairman. Mojdehi and Hosseini succeed Dr. Hamid Biglari and Dr. Firouz Naderi, who respectively served as the Board's Chair and Vice Chair for the past three years. - 2/4/11

Photos: Snow In Village Of Ziarat Village of Ziarat is located in Golestan province of Iran. According to manan-khorasani, this village, which is a popular tourist destination, has a different culture and architecture compared to other villages in the province. -Aboutaleb Nadri - 2/4/11

A Battle for DemocracySharif Abdel Kouddous Reports on How Anti-Government Protesters Are Resisting the Mubarak's Regime Crackdown -Democracy Now - 2/4/11

Iranian-Canadian Web Developer in Danger of Imminent Execution International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran expressed its grave concern about the execution sentence of Saeed Malekpour, an Iranian-Canadian dual national and web developer, accused of establishing "pornographic websites." He has been reportedly tortured to confess to these charges. - 2/4/11

Jailed Iranian Blogger Denied Leave For SurgeryHossein Ronaghi was arrested in December 2009 during the crackdown following mass protests against that summer's presidential election. He was later sentenced to 15 years in jail and is currently in Tehran's Evin prison. - 2/4/11

The Arab Revolution: Will Democracy Become Islam's Best Friend?Millions of people in the Middle East want freedom, just as Eastern Europeans once did. Twenty years ago, the West was a role model, but it betrays its own values. In doing so, it is also strengthening its enemy: militant Islamism. -Jakob Augstein, Spiegel - 2/4/11

The Fake Moderation of America's Moderate Mideast AlliesAs the Mubarak regime turns to violence in a vain attempt to repress the peaceful protests that have swept Egypt's streets for over ten days, the risks associated with current U.S. strategy for Egypt and the wider region continue to grow. -FPIF - 2/4/11

EU waives Iran visa ban, but Tehran stays silent European Union states have agreed to waive a visa ban on Iran's foreign minister so he can attend a security conference in Germany this weekend, but Tehran has yet to reply to the invitation, an EU official said. -Reuters - 2/4/11

The Specter Of 1979 Is Haunting The Middle East As the world watches events in Egypt unfold, the spectacle of demonstrators massed on Cairo's Tahrir Square (Liberation Square) is awakening memories of an equally epochal moment in the Middle East 32 years ago. Back then the country at stake was Iran. -Christian Caryl, RFE - 2/3/11

Jailed student activists summoned by Iranian judiciary Three jailed student activists were summoned to court Tuesday to face further charges by the Iranian judiciary. Bahareh Hedayat, Majid Tavakoli and Mehdieh Golroo were summoned to branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary court to denounce statements attributed to them on websites and to press charges against the publishers of the material, Danehshjoo News reports. - 2/3/11

Former Egyptian Diplomat ElBaradei Becomes Face of Mubarak OppositionAnalysts say ElBaradei, seen as a moderate politically, has become a spokesman for an opposition front made up of various groups including nationalists, centrists, left-leaning parties and the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest and largest Islamist organization. -VOA - 2/3/11

Iranian Baha'i Activist Given Long Prison Term A human rights activist and Baha'i follower who was barred from studying at a university has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran -RFE - 2/3/11

Videos: Chaos Erupts in Cairo Violence flares between supporters of Hosni Mubarak and anti-government protesters in the Egyptian capital after days of mass demonstrations against the president and his regime. -RNN - 2/3/11

No Islamic Revolution is in the Making The events of some Arab countries, especially Tunisia and Egypt and to some extent Lebanon, has made the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran and similar forces to claim that Islam is spreading all over the Middle East and the people of these countries -Bahman Aghai Diba - 2/3/11

In Iran, Internet surfers battle cyber police"Since the revolt in Tunisia, subsequent mass protests in Jordan and now Egypt, I have noticed that anonymous surfing services (free proxy servers) are increasingly becoming inaccessible, while paid services have to re-route through several services, making them rather snail-paced," said Milad, who asked that his last name not be used. -AFP - 2/3/11

Oil Giants Fear Revolution Is Coming To Them Next In conversations today, two well-placed businessmen with vast Middle East experience agreed that Iran is getting worried. "I think Iran is scared because what happened in Egypt really started in Iran," one said, referring to 2009's nascent Green Revolution. -Christopher Helman, Forbes - 2/3/11

US slaps sanctions on Iranian firms The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on six individuals and five companies affiliated with Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). - 2/3/11

India Creates New Method to Pay for Oil Purchases From IranIndia set up a new mechanism to pay for crude purchased from Iran, ending a five-week gridlock that threatened $9.5 billion of annual bilateral oil trade after the South Asian nation scrapped the previous settlement system. -Bloomberg - 2/3/11

New Biography Of Shah Of Iran Feels Oddly Contemporary Imagine the following scenario: A Middle Eastern autocrat rules his country for decades with an iron fist. He wins the esteem of the West nonetheless for his success at providing his country with the fruits of progress in an otherwise dysfunctional region. He's staunchly secular, with a credible record on the promotion of literacy and women's rights. -Christian Caryl, RFE - 2/2/11

Reports of Pakistan's Expanding Nuclear Arsenal Raise Concern Two prominent American newspapers are reporting that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal over the past two years, putting it ahead of archrival India and on a path to overtake Britain, the fifth-largest nuclear weapons power. - 2/2/11

Latest trial for Iranian human rights lawyer postponed Nasrin Sotoudeh's trial for not wearing the hijab (head covering) was postponed Tuesday after the detained human rights lawyer complained of insufficient notice. A new court date has been set for February 16. -Zamaneh - 2/2/11

Qalibaf: The Fortunate No-Show Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mayor of Tehran, was banned from making a US trip, but will that affect his political future? -Shayesteh Asadi, Iranian Diplomacy - 2/2/11

Iran lifts Afghan fuel supply restriction Iran has lifted all restrictions on fuel supplies to Afghanistan in response to the Afghan government's declaration that it will not provide the fuel to NATO troops stationed in the country. -Press TV - 2/2/11

Will there be war on Iran? A fresh yet divergent look at an old question In 2002 Iran was added to the neoconservative-designed 'Axis of Evil' and thus declared ripe for US military intervention. The threat of war in the 'greatest crisis of modern times' (John Pilger in the New Statesman, July 12, 2007) was at its height in 2006-2007. -Ali Fathollah-Nejad - 2/1/11

Iran: Two more activists receive heavy sentencesIranian judiciary slapped human rights activist Navid Khanjani with 12 years in prison and a monetary fine for his journalistic activities, interviews with the foreign media and membership in Human Rights Reporters committee. - 2/1/11

Iran may cut cultural ties with France over Louvre's perfidy The Louvre has not fulfilled its commitments of organizing a showcase to display a collection of its Persian artifacts in Iran, Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Director Hamid Baqaii said in a press release on Sunday. - 2/1/11

Letter to the US Navy about Persian Gulf Following the second Iraq war in 2003, Persian Gulf Online Organization members have observed that the U.S. Navy commanders have adopted the use of the fabricated term "Arabian Gulf" which is void of any legal and historical legitimacy in reference to the historically recognized and noted name as Persian Gulf - 2/1/11

Crunch time coming for America in the Middle East? Who do we need most if America's own real interests are to be best protected - the Arabs or Israel? And that, of course, begs the mother and father of all questions for them: Is Israel our most valuable ally in the region or our biggest liability? -Alan Hart - 2/1/11

Iran Fights Internet FreedomThe Iranian government has blocked the Iranian people from accessing thousands of websites; it has slowed down the speed of the Internet in Iran to a maddening crawl; and it has used the Internet to track down protestors and their families. It has also jailed Iranian bloggers, and given several severely long prison sentences. -VOA - 2/1/11

AP Exclusive: Report warns of Iran nuke disasterThe control systems of Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant have been penetrated by a computer worm unleashed last year, according to a foreign intelligence report that warns of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster once the site becomes fully operational. -AP - 2/1/11